Time electric switch



G. GEMMER ET AL TIME ELEGTRIGA swITcH Filed Oct. 6, 1925 2 Sheetsesheet l Sept. 6,' 1927.

TIME ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed oct. GQ 192s 2 shuts-:Sheet 2 Patentedl I :UNITED 'STATES PATENT oFFi-CE."

GEoneE A. @Emma AND cLAnEncE 'CAMPBELL or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY;

mimi ELECTRIC swrrcii. l

I f 'Application nica-catcher s, 192e. --seriai No. 139,839.'

This invention relates in general to electric switches of the type automatically opening `or closing electric circuits after apredetermined period of time has elapsed, and 'more particularly to such a switch especially adapted for use with radio receiving sets for controlling the battery current so that there can be .no danger of the current being leftturned on indefinitely as is now freswitch.

uently the case when the operator forgets to t row off the usual manually operated One object of the invention is to provide an electric switch of the character described in whichoperation of the Aswitch is controlled by a gravity influenced piston movable in a cylinder containing a liquidl such as .f oil which `retards movement of the piston,

the switch being actuated when said piston .has moved a certain distance so that the speed of movement of the piston detern'iir'ies said period of time which inustelapse be fore Vthe switch is operated.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved electric switch of this character wherein the speed of movement of said piston 'may be predetermined or controlled so,y that the eriod of time during lwhich it is desired tli closed may be varied. A further object is to provide vsuch an electric switch which includes a pair of terminals the circuit through which is closed by a conducting liquid such as' mercury and wherein the mercury is displaced or moved into or out of contact with at least one of said terminals by means controlled or actu` ated by said piston when the piston reaches the limit of its movement.

Other objects are to provide a time electric switch including a cylinder having a piston lmovable longitudinally thereof` and novel and` improved means for tiltably mounting said cylinder between its ends on a horizontal axis; to provide a pair of electric switch contact elements at each end of said cylinder .and mercury for normally closing the circuit between said contacts which l is displaced from contact with ai' ler-lst' one of said contacas by means carried by said .piston when the piston reaches its limit of movement, and `to` obtain other results .and advantages as may be brought out by the following descri tion. i A

Referring to t e accompanying drawings,

at the switch shall be open or in which correspondingv andl like parts are designated ,throughout the several views by the same reference characters,4

v Figure 1 Lis a front elevation of a `switch embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1,

showing the switch in position to close the circuit;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view,

'taken on the line 3--3 of Figure ,2;

Figure 4.- lis a sectional side elevation sliow-I ving the switch -in open position;

Figure 5 is a View similar toFigure 1 showing a modified form' of the' invention;

Figure 6 is a sectional rearelevation of the switch shown in Figure 5, showing the switch in closed position;

Figure7 is a transversev vertical sectional view, taken on the line 7 -7 yof Figure 6, and

exteriorly ,of the casing or support 6 with a knobl or the like 8 whereby the shaft may `be rotated. Interposed between the block 3 and the support 6 is a friction washer 9 which serves to hold the block in anyr adjusted position to 'which it is moved by rotation of the shaft 5. Obviously, with this construction, the axis of the tube 1 may be disposed at any desired angle to the horizontal'by merely rotating the shaft 5.

Within each end of the tube 1 is fitted a tubular electrical lconducting member 10., Preferably this member 10 is frictionally secured within a tubular cork bushing 11 which is lin turn frictionally fitted withinthe tube l., ,whereby a liquid-tight connection of the conducting-member 10 to the -tube l is secured.v A lplug 12 preferablyV Figure 8 is a view similar toFigure 7 showing the switch in open position.

tube 1 is housed, and the shaft vis provided I los formed of cork is-fricuomuy seed within,

f rtheouter end of the conducting member 1 Ysubstantially co-axia ing member and has mounted therein an electric conducting wire .13 which rojects 1nto the tube y with the conduct- 10.

14 is reciprocably mounted with-4 A piston 1 to move by action of gravity in the tube .rom one end' thereof to the other, and a tu- 14 are .recessed or cupped as at 18. The

tube 1 is filled with a liquid such as oil, and a quantity of mercury 19 is arranged.. 1n each end of they cylinder to cooperate with the respective electrical conducting. members 10 and 13.` It will be observed that the construction", 'comprises in effect two electric switches each of which includes a switch cup or recess formed by the reslpctlve tubular contact `member I0 and t e plug 1.2, the contact members 10 and 13 being. 1n spaced and substantially co-axial relation, and when the respective body of mercury 19 is arranged within the switch cup .1t

makes contact with both contact members 10 and .13 so aste close the circuit th'erethe horizontal or through.

In operation of the switch, with the tube 1 at any angle to the horizontal, one body of mercury will be located in thelowermost Iswitch cup while the other body of mercury will be located in the correspndin recessed end l18 of the iston 14, as shown 1n Figure 2 of the drawings.; and the piston 14 is influenced by gravity toward the lowermostswitch cup. Assuming the piston 14 to be somewhere between theends. of the tube 1,- it will slowly move due to action of sgravity and resistance to'movement by the oil inl the tube, until it reaches the lowermost/ switch cup. As thecircuit breaking member 15 enters the cup it surrounds `the central contact member 13 and bodily displaces the' mercur therefromsoLas tov break the circuit throug the switch`,`*as. shown.in Figure 4 of the drawings. Obviously, the time necessary for the piston to move Jtrom one end of the tube to the other may be varied by variation of the angularity ofthe tube fromv Xs'ariations in the viscosity of the oil. uming the switch to be in o en osition as shownby Figure 4 of the rawmgs, when it is desired to close the circuit, the tube 1 is reversed by rotationto the-shaft 5 sov that the switch which was rst at the lowerl end of, the tube is now at -the'u per end,`whereup'on the llowermost body o mercury d1"' pS`r to. the lowermost switch cup and the piston begins descent in the tube. Preferably the operating knob 8 lis formed with a pointer 20 cooperating with suitable indicia 21 for indicating the position of the tube 1, said pointer preferably being at substantially right angles to the a-xi's of the tube, as shown.

The conducting members 12 and 13. of each switch cup are connected tobinding posts 22 and 23 by means of wires 24, the contact members 13 of both switches being connected to one binding post and the contact members 10 of both switches being connected to the other bindin post. Also, the block 3 may be formed wit transverse open-v ings 25 With which communicate longitudinal openings 26 for supporting the wires and preventing tangling thereof incident to rotation of the tube 1. l

Obviousl the casing 7 may be dispensed with and t e cover 6 may be supplanted by any other suitable support, such as the panel board of a radio receivin set. d

A modified Jform of the invention is shown in Figures 548, inclusive, and includes a tube 30 similar to the tube 1 and mounted in a block 31 fast toa shaft 32 journaled in a bearing 33 upon a'nysuitable support such as a panel board34. The shaft 32 is rotatable by a knob 35. The tube 30 is substantlally balanced u 'on the block 31, that is, the shaft 32 is isposed substantially. centrally of the' length of the tube; and the tube 1s filled with oil or the like andy has'recip'royso arranged that when the cup 37 is in one position the mercury contacts with both- `said members, while when the cup is in' another position' the mercury by action of gravity is out of contact with one of said members.

In operation of the switch, the tube v3() is dis osedat an angle to the horizontal, prefera ly 45 degrees, and the circuit through the contact members' '39 and 40 is made by the mercur 3,8, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawing. or holdingthe tube 30 in .this

position we may employ a spring detent41 aving a finger 42 to engage a notch 43 .on a detent plate 44 fast secured to any suitable supportv such as the- Aanelboard 34. The

'necessary tension orv riction issupplied by adjustment of a thumb nut 45 mounted upon afscrew '46 which passes loosely through an- Iopening 47j'in the detent' strip 4 1. Assumingr the piston 36 to be somewhere betweenthe endsvof the tube 30, it will move slowly by action of. gravity toward the lower end of thetubeLandwhen it reaches a point adjacent said lower end itsweight will overcome the resistance produced by the spring detent lso 41 and force the finger 42 out'of the notch 43, whereupon the block 31 and the tube will I' rotateuntil the axis of thel tube is substantially vertical. Movement of Vthe tube into on the detent plate 44 which is engaged by l the edge of the spring detent stri 41.

This movement of the block 31 tilts t ie mercury cup 37 so that one ot' the contact members 39 or 40 is moved out of the mercury, the mercury of course maintaining aconstant level by action of gravity. rlie switch is therefore invopen position as shown in Figure 8 of the drawings. Assuming the switch t be in open position as shown in Figure 8, to close the switch the knob is rotated through an angle of 135 degrees which reverses the tube 30 and locates'the piston 3G at the upper end thereof, at the saine time causing the mercury 38 to contact with both of the members 39 and .40. Obviously, two sets of detentV notches and stop shoulders 43 and 50, respectively, will be provided, one

i set at each side of a vertical axial plane of the shaft 32, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings.

While we have shown two embodiments of our invention and illustrated certain details of construction, it will be understood that thisis primarily for the purpose of illustrating the principles of t e invention and that many modifications and changes may be made in the details of construction' 'without Having thus described t ie invention, what we claim is: y

1. A time electric switch comprising a cylinder having a piston therein movable by action of grayity, a switch cup having a pair of s aced and insulated electrical contact niem ers therein and Amercury to contact with both of said members and movable out of contact withnat least one thereof, and

-ineans actuated by` said piston` when it/ reaches a certain point in said cylinder for displacing said mercury from atleast one 'of sai contact members.

` A time electricswitch comprising a c lp v`of contact with -at leastone thereof, and

ymeans-for mounting said e linder and switch cup so thatwhen said piston reaches 'a certain point iii saild cylinder fsaid mercury at east one o said contact v v forth 1n' claim 5 m'which said,L cylinder has members.v

` ii'fder having a piston therein 4movable aetionof gravity, a'switch cup having a pair of' 's aced and insulated electrical contact mem rstherein and4 mercur to 4contact with both of lsaid members an movable out is displaced from 3. A time electric switchcomprising a hollowl cylinder having both ends closed,;a piston movable in said cylinder, means for tiltv.axis so that the cylinder may be, disposed with its axis at an an le tothe horizontal and alternately reverse to cause said piston to move by action of Gravity Jfrom one end of the cylinder toward the other, a pair of spaced and insulated electric switch cont-act members projecting into said cylinder, a body of mercury in said cylinder 4to contact with both of said contact members and close a circuit and displaceable out of contact with at least one of said members,and means .on said piston for so displacing said mercury when the piston reaches a cert-ain point in the cylinder.

4. A time electrif switch comprising a c linder having a piston therein, means for tiltably mounting said cylinder on a horizontal axis so that said cylinder may bedisposed with its axis at an angle to thefhoril contact members toclose a circuit and movable out of contact with at least one of said members, said piston yhaving a' lportion formed with a recess to enter said cup and surround one of said contact membersto displace saidv mercury from said one of said Contact membersv when the'piston reaches a certain point in said cylinder.

A5. A time electric switch comprising a `cylinder having a piston therein, means for tiltably mounting said cylinder/on ai horizontal axis so that said cylinder may bedisposed with its axis at an angle tothehorizontal to cause said piston to move in said cylinder by actionof 'gravity from one end to the other and vice versa, a switch* cu or recess at one end 'of the cylinder inclu ing `an annular` or sleeve-likel electriccontact member and a second electric conducting member projectinginto said cup or recess from the bottom thereof in spaced and vinsulated relation to /said annular member,

and a body of mercury to contact with `both of said contact members tojcloseta circuit, saidpiston having a portion formed with a recess to enter said cup and surroundthe second-mentioned contact member and. displace said mercury from contacttherewith 'and o enthe circuit. v

.6., he ,time 'electric switch -member :set-

forth in claim 4 iii. which said cylinder has a non-conducting liquid through which `said Pietonmoves- ,7. The. e electric switch'men'iberv set a non-conducting liquid throughwhich-said f reversed, two s 2a -hollow cylinder having capable of being disposed with its axis at hollow. cylinder having both ends closed and capable of being disposed with its axis at an angle to the-horizontal and alternately reversed, a piston movable in said cylinder from one end toward the other by action of gravity, a pair of spaced Vand insulated electric switch contact members'projecting into said-,c linder,.and a body of mercury in said cylin er to contact,l with both of said contact members and close a circuit and dis'- placeable out of contact with at least one of said members, said piston .bein 'formed to so displace said mercury when t e -iston reaches a certain pointfin said cylin er.

9. .AA time electric switch comprising a both ends closed and an angle to\the horizontal and alternately aced pairs `,of spaced and insulated electric switch contact members projecting into said'cylinder; a piston mov! able in said cylinder from one end toward the other and vice versa by action'of grav-- ity, and a body of vmercury at each side of said piston for contacting with one ofsaid pairs of'contact members to close thecircuit therethrough and displaceable out of contact with at least Ione of said contact members of the resective pair to openthe circuit, said piston ing -formed to so displace said bodies 'of mercury when it reaches certain points in said cylinder.

10. A time electricswitch vcomprising a hollowr cylinder having both ends closed and capable vof being disposedwith itsaxis at an 1angle .to the horizontaland' alternately reversed, aswitch cu or'recess at each end lof said cylinder 'inc u ding an annular or sleeve-like y"electric switch contact member M and a second contact memberarrangedwithin'and in spaced and insulated relation to said annular contact member, a piston movable in said cylinder by action of gravity `from `one end to the other,

and a body of mercury movable by gravity in said cylinder between each side lof said piston and the corres onding end of the cylinder to cooperate 4 switch contact.

wit the respective pair members to' open and-close a circuit, said piston having at each end a portion formed with a recess to 4enter the corresponding switch cup and surround the second-mentioned contact member to displace the mer cury from contact therewith. l V11. A time electricswitch comprising a hollow cylinder having both ends closed and capable of' being disposed with its axis at an angle to the horizontal and alternately reversed, a pair of spaced and insulated electric switch contact membersl projecting into said cylinder, and means for electrically connecting' said contactI members, said means .being displaceable from at least one of said contact members to disconnect said members, said piston being formed to so displace said means when the piston reaches a certain point in said cylinder. I

GEORGE GEMMER. CLARENCE SECAMBBELL. 

